Christina Applegate has recently taken to her podcast to assure fans of her wellbeing, following some concerning comments she made earlier this month. The “Dead to Me” star, who has been open about her struggles with multiple sclerosis (MS), addressed the reactions to her candid remarks about her mental health.
During the June 4 episode of her podcast “MeSsy,” co-hosted with Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Applegate spoke openly about her battle with depression. She described feeling trapped in a darkness she hadn’t experienced in over two decades. “It’s kind of scaring me too a little bit because it feels really fatalistic, it feels really ‘end of,’” she said. “I don’t enjoy living. I don’t enjoy it. I don’t enjoy things anymore.”
These comments understandably alarmed many of her fans, leading to a wave of concern and speculation. Applegate felt compelled to clarify her statements in the June 18 episode of her podcast. “I’m good. Does that take a little bit of the pressure off of all of you? I’m good. Let’s address it. We are going to address it,” she said. “It’s a moment. It’s a thought. It’s a feeling. I was talking about some dark stuff I was thinking and feeling.”
Applegate, who was diagnosed with MS in August 2021, has been transparent about her journey with the chronic illness. She uses her podcast as a platform to discuss her experiences and to create a safe space for others dealing with similar issues. “I feel that when we hold things in, we give them power,” she explained. “I also think that there’s so much shame that a lot of people feel when they’re going through mental health issues, and they call them issues. I hate that.”
After her initial comments, Applegate received numerous messages from concerned friends and fans. She wanted to reassure everyone that she has a strong support system. “I have beautiful people around me and beautiful support systems,” she said, pushing back against the idea that her comments should be a cause for alarm. “By making such a big deal about it, you’re making other people think, oh, s— I can’t talk about this.”
Applegate emphasized the importance of being able to express one’s feelings, no matter how dark they may be. “I think it’s important to be able to say these things,” she continued. “I dare anyone to be diagnosed with MS or any kind of chronic illness that has taken who you were prior to that moment and go, this is great. You know? No.”
She acknowledged that living with a chronic illness can be exhausting and disheartening. “You have moments of feeling like this is tiring and I don’t wanna do this. But you do it, and by having friends like you and my beautiful friends that I have, by saying this s— out loud, it releases the pressure in the balloon, man.”
Applegate’s candidness about her mental health and MS diagnosis has been both brave and necessary. She hopes that by sharing her experiences, she can help others feel less alone and more empowered to speak about their own struggles. “It’s incredibly healing and important to be able to express the thoughts, whether that makes someone uncomfortable or not,” she said.
She also made it clear that she is not in immediate danger. “No, I’m not sitting here on suicide watch, OK? I am not. Nor have I ever been,” she assured her listeners. “I dare anyone to be diagnosed with MS or any kind of chronic illness that has taken who you were prior to that moment and go, ‘This is great.’ You know? No, you have moments of feeling, ‘This is tiring and I don’t want to do this.’ But you do it, and by having friends like you and my beautiful friends that I have saying this sh*t out loud it releases the pressure in the balloon.”
Applegate’s journey with MS has been a challenging one, but she continues to face it with courage and honesty. Her willingness to discuss her mental health openly is a testament to her strength and resilience. As she navigates this difficult path, she remains a source of inspiration for many who are dealing with similar issues.
Christina Applegate’s message to her fans is clear: she is doing well, despite the challenges she faces. Her openness about her struggles serves as a reminder that it’s okay to talk about mental health and that seeking support is a sign of strength, not weakness.
